How well do you love your music in the car (if at all…) and what you want your head unit (receiver) to do, or to be capable of delivering in terms of quality sound and performance?

Some people are fine with their simple stock receivers and are quite content with the squeaky music blaring through the low-quality factory installed car audio system. But that’s them… most of us don’t fit into that category.

Pioneer DEH-150MP

CD receiver with built-in MOSFET amplifier

plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA files

Cheap Car Stereo – under $50 – SINGLE DIN

Our Pick: Pioneer DEH-150MP

Winner

Our Pick

Pioneer DEH-150MP

With the Pioneer DEH-150MP Single DIN Car Stereo however, you surely get a lot more than you pay for. It not only has a magnificent sound output, it also posses a whole bunch of other interesting capabilities.

When it’s time you threw your old rusty stereo out the window for something new and more functional, settling on a Pioneer product is just about the smartest choice you can make.

The Pioneer DEH-150MP is not only incredibly affordable, it comes with an impressive package of features that will knock your socks off any day.

This explains why this particular tiny gadget is our number one pick when it comes to car stereos. What’s more, the Pioneer manufacturers have a quite the reputation when it comes to efficient, high-quality gadgets.

With that, let’s take a look at what the Pioneer DEH -150MP has on its plate.

Compared to its predecessor, this model is definitely an upgrade in more ways than one. The manufacturer clearly takes into consideration the fact that any driver needs a stereo that’s easily workable when driving.

On top of the list is its multi – segregated LCD display with a LED backlight for better visibility and legibility.

This 9× 10X 4. 5 inches car radio comes with a detachable faceplate that enables you to reduce chances of it being stolen by a long shot. All you have to do is simply detach it from your dash and store it in a much safer location of your choice.

The fact that it can take 99 playable folders and 999 playable files go on to back its capabilities even more.

When it comes to sound and music quality, the Pioneer DEH -150MP stereo has you well covered. Well known to most people, compressing audio files reduces their quality mainly due to data loss.

This car stereo, however, is designed to give off a wave of clarified sounds no matter the quality of the music input. This is made possible by its Advanced Sound Retriever technology that boosts sound reproduction, especially when playing compressed files.

Fitted with a pretty efficient MOSFET amplifier, it has a CD receiver that can play anything ranging from CD-Rs to CD-RWs. It also effortlessly plays both MP3 and WMA music formats.

To sweeten the package even further, it also includes a Bass Boost feature that goes a step further to improving any audio’s sound quality.

Additional features include a 5 band graphic equalizer, front AUX input, hands-free remote control, 1 set of R A Precuts(2.0 V) and a 50 Watts 4 channel power output.

Notably, it’s overall design is dust resistant making it easy to keep it clean all through.

Runner-Up: BOSS Audio 508UAB

Runner Up

Runner Up

BOSS Audio 508UAB

Bluetooth enabled, wireless hands free control and the chance to use audio apps; the Boss Audio 508UAB is one of the best stereo options around. At such a price, a combination of such specs is hard to come by.

At a surprisingly affordable price, you can get yourself this incredible machine to keep you company during your travels.

This stereo is designed to produce quality sound with a few hiccups as possible. There is no doubt that the Boss Audio 508UAB promises you a good collection of features that could keep just any driver fully satisfied.

Let’s take a deeper look at exactly what this stereo has to offer. One of the best features about the Boss Audio 508UAB is that it is Bluetooth enabled.

Many drivers would collectively agree that this makes it extremely handy mostly becomes it allows for hands-free control. You can easily pair it with your smartphone and listen to your favorites even from music apps such as Pandora.

Thanks to the Bluetooth feature, you can also make your calls without even having to reach out for your phone.

Other impressive additions are the USB and SD ports that allow you to listen to your own music. Using the auxiliary input, it gives you the privilege of hooking up your music player or phone; what’s better than listening to your own music on a long, exhausting drive.

Aside from having a built-in equalizer, the Boss Audio 508UAB car stereo plays both MP3 and WMA music formats not to mention all sorts of CDs. It is clearly a very handy little gadget.

More features include its wireless remote control, 50 Watts × 4 Max power output, a switchable turner (US or European) and finally front and rear pre-amp outputs.

Really Cheap: Blaupunkt Washington100

Really Cheap

Really Cheap

Blaupunkt Washington100

This Blaupunkt stereo receiver offers an enjoyable car ride at a considerably low purchase price. With its presence in the market, a tight budget shouldn't stop you from replacing your old car stereo.

Pioneer DEH-X6900BT

The simplicity of the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT can be deceiving… but this car stereo head unit is a beast, to say the least. Cool, calm, and collected.

As a matter of fact, the simplistic look and design of this deck are some of its major selling points according to online customer reviews.

Going deeper into the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT’s functionality and specs, you will be surprised at the amount of tech that has gone into producing this head unit.

For expandability, this superb deck is fitted with a single AUX input and USB port on the front and 6-channel outputs on the back (2V preamp for the front, rear, and subwoofer).

It also has direct USB control for devices such as iPods and iPhones plus it accepts wired remote input. On the Bluetooth front, the head unit uses AVRCP 1.5 for audio and video streaming from your smartphone media library and A2DP for advanced audio distribution.

With the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT you get a single DIN car stereo HU that plays media from your CDs (CD/CD-R/RW – NOT DVD), and USB stick(s) in the following formats; WAV, FLAC (highly compressed digital media), MP3, WMA, and AAC Audio.

Please note the FLAC files can only play from your USB stick. But the rest can play on both CDs and USB. This deck uses ASR (Advanced Sound Retriever) to play compressed files (FLAC) without faltering on sound quality.

The radio tuner receives both AM and FM with 6 AM and 18 FM presets and BSM (Best Station Memory).

The Audio quality is awesome. I mean… what do you call a 50 watts x 4 internal MOSFET amplifier with 14W RMS, 3-way network option with 3 RCA pre-outs at 2V each that allow you to connect 3 different external amplifiers to drive three distinctly separated sound ranges (high, mid, and low with subwoofer level control) as well as HPF or LPF crossover options, a 13-band customizable equalizer with 7 tone preset settings, 3 volume modes, and the MIXTRAX feature to give you the craziest DJ experience? Simply Awesome!

The things you can do with the smartphone integration are even wilder. Imagine streaming endless music from Spotify or Pandora straight from your smartphone through your car stereo? Cool right? Well, the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT really plays well with your phone.

You can also create your own Pandora station to play only what you love all day long through your Android smartphone (MTP/AOA 2.0 music support technology) or iPhone.

That’s not even the cool part… you can use the Siri Eyes Free feature which provides natural-language voice command functionality to control your HU (through your smartphone) while staying focused on the road and driving.

And that’s not even the half of it… the Pioneer Advanced Remote Control (ARC) app allows you to control some simple features on the HU using your smartphone.

You can also access your phone’s media library and select music from your phone using the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT head unit.

Runner-Up: Kenwood KMMBT315U

Kenwood KMMBT315U

The Kenwood KMM-BT315U is a close second with startling features of its own. Although it does not come with a CD player like the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT, this Kenwood deck can still match some of the Pioneer head unit’s features and actually deliver more on some aspects.

For instance, the Kenwood KMMBT315U has Bluetooth functionality that includes the same A2DP Android integration capability plus an added AptX for hands-free dual phone connection (with a wired rear BT microphone) and AOA (Android Open Access) for wireless media browsing and streaming from your phone’s media library as well as iHeart Radio and Pandora.

The Kenwood KMM-MBT315U features an SXV (100, 200, and 300 readies) radio tuner with backup memory to store up to 24 AM/FM preset channels and it includes Automatic Memory Entry (AME) to search and memorize strong radio stations.

In addition to the radio tuner, the Kenwood KMM-BT315U deck plays music from USB disks in the following formats; WAV, MP3, AAC, FLAC (with ID-3 tag display), and WMA.

This amazing head unit is capable of directly cabled connections with your iPhone, iPod, SD card reader, and Android devices. There is also an AUX jack to connect more external sources.

On matters of audio quality, the Kenwood KMM-BT315U almost matches the Pioneer on several fronts such as the 13-band equalizer, subwoofer level control, and 3 pre-outs.

However, the pre-out channels have a 2.5V rating which is 0.5V higher than in the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT, meaning it technically performs better when it comes to sound quality and clarity – although the difference is negligible.

Another feature that stands out for this Kenwood deck is the Bass Boost and Loudness.

Please note that the Kenwood KMMBT315U also has inbuilt HPF and LPF just like our leading Pioneer head unit although unlike the Pioneer it comes with the signature KSR (Kenwood Sound Reconstruction) feature to enhance sound quality from compressed music files.

To top it all up, this deck has a MOSFET inbuilt amplifier with a rating of 50W peak x 4 channels that deliver 22W RMS (almost twice the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT).

The theft deterrent faceplate, a hand-held infrared remote, and the 1-year warranty are just a plus. It is so easy to see why the Kenwood KMMBT315U takes the No. 2 spot on our list of best cheap single-DIN car stereos.

FYI: Android USB super-fast charging is also an added outstanding feature of the Kenwood KMMBT315U.

Also Great: BOSS AUDIO 616UAB

On the Budget

Cheap option

BOSS AUDIO 616UAB

Looking at the face of this head unit says it all; stylish, simple…yet somewhat sophisticated! Everything is just where it ought to be.

Our choice for third place in this category is definitely the BOSS Audio 616UAB car stereo.

Just like the Kenwood KMMBT315U, this deck doesn’t have a CD player but that’s only one minor drawback considering the other things this baby can deliver.

Looking at the face of this head unit says it all; stylish, simple…yet somewhat sophisticated! Everything is just where it ought to be.

With the BOSS Mech-Less BT car stereo, you have more options like a switchable AM/FM radio receiver with 30 channel presets (12 AM and 18 FM radio stations) that works superbly whether in Europe or in the US. Your favorite radio shows will never be the same again!

In addition to the standard USB function in decks vetted for this category, the BOSS 616UAB single-DIN car stereo also features an SD port expandable to a maximum capacity of 32GB, same as the USB thumb drive.

Playbacks allowed on this HU include WMA and MP3. There is also an AUX input option to receive Audio out from external MP3 players or smartphones coupled with a front pre-amped output.

You can also hook up your smartphone via USB cable and play your favorite playlist from there.

And the fun doesn’t stop there… the Bluetooth function gives you a wider variety of fun things to do when both your HU and smartphone are paired.

Similar to the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT above, the BOSS 616UAB allows you to make hands-free phone calls and while the BT-A2DP allows you to organize and stream music from your Android mobile device.

Additionally, the deck is enabled for direct radio streaming through Pandora and Spotify giving you endless choice for music.

The ID3 Tag feature enables you to see information about the music files currently playing such as title, track number, artist, or album.

On the downside, some online reviewers noted that the MP3 read order was kind of crappy. But then again, the problem could easily be with their crappy devices… who knows?

Interlude: You can also hook up a monitor (LCD screen) to view video files. The Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) on the BOSS 616UAB’s deck ensures that everything is visible and crystal clear.

When it comes to audio quality and sound delivery, the 50W x 4 internal amplifier ensures that the music is loud and clear enough with a combined output power of 2ooW.

This deck allows you to play around with the fader, balance, treble, and bass with a preset equalizer to help you navigate through the tonal ranges you enjoy for different genres of music with so much ease.

The BOSS 616UAB is where cheap and quality meet for coffee!

However, you can only connect one external amplifier which is usually enough for most car owners. Your attention MUST always be on the road… and BOSS knows this, that’s why the handheld remote control allows you to meddle with the deck’s key functions while cruising the highway.

Also Great: XO Vision XD103

On the Budget

Basic

XO Vision XD103

Despite the lack of CD playing functionality, the XO Vision XD-103 delivers excellent results in everything else the manufacturer says it is supposed to do. The facial look is probably not that unique but the features inside are!

This cheap head unit is definitely not very much known compared to the big names above but… what’s in a name? The XO Vision XD103 is proof that great performance can come from less-known dedicated brands.

Now, get ready to fall madly in love with the XO Vision single DIN deck. Despite the lack of CD playing functionality, the XO Vision XD-103 delivers excellent results in everything else the manufacturer says it is supposed to do. The facial look is probably not that unique but the features inside are!

One thing you notice at a glance about the XO Vision HU is that carries so much in a relatively smaller package since the chassis only covers half the depth of the DIN.

However, don’t let the half-pint size fool you, this head unit still has loads of exceptional features to offer. It’s not about what the XO Vision can do, but how well it does it…

To kick us off, this deck gives more options to hook up external media storage devices such USB devices, Audio out from mobile devices, and a slot for SD cards.

However, the HU only plays MP3 and WMA files. Another downside to this deck is the fact that the 20W x 4 output only drives a maximum combination of 80W which is not that impressive compared to the BOSS 616UAB which maxes at 200W.

The pre-amped outs are a super 12V meaning exceptional tone and volume control which translates to unmatched sound quality and generally no static interference.

This cheap car radio also comes with a pre-amplified line-out. The FM/AM radio receiver also provides you with an option to store 18 presets for quick navigation through your favorite radio stations.

Cheap Car Stereo – under $150 – DOUBLE DIN

Our Pick: Sound Storm DD889B

Double DIN Winner

Our Pick

Sound Storm DD889B

The SSL DD889B head unit is literally slightly larger than the average 2-DIN decks and it seems the extra size packs extra power and performance… the features cannot possibly be matched by any other HU in this category!

The SSL DD889B head unit is literally slightly larger than the average 2-DIN decks and it seems the extra size packs extra power and performance… the features cannot possibly be matched by any other HU in this category!

The RDS tuner displays messages with up to 64 characters to ensure that you know exactly which station or show you’re listening to on the radio which receives both AM and FM broadcasts with crystal clarity.

The inbuilt preset equalizer lets you choose a variety of tonal ranges depending on the kind of music you’re listening to.

The head unit also allows you to adjust the fader, fidget with the balance, and increase or decrease treble and bass levels. In addition to CDs, VCDs, and DVDs, the SS DD889B HU also plays media from your USB thumb drive and SD card (up to 32GB).

You also have the option to hook up your phone via USB cable and play your favorite saved music.

The SSL deck plays WMA, MP4, JPEG and MP3 files. You can also watch videos and movies from an external source through the AV input when relaxing in your car… or you can use an external monitor to watch videos from the head unit through the AV out function (RCA port).

It also features the ESP (Electronic Skip Protection) function which stores (buffers) digital music from CDs in advance to give you uninterrupted music even when the CD fails for a few moments.

The 2V pre-outs allow you to connect 2 external amplifiers for that extra kick and there’s also a front pre-amped AUX output (including SUB). This means you have a wide variety of options when it comes to expandability or choice of other car audio system components such as speakers or signal processors.

You can find a professional sound engineer to install the complete system and calibrate it for you for optimum output and performance.

When it comes to matters of Bluetooth, the SS DD889B can do more than connecting devices to a closed network. The A2DP BT protocol allows you to stream music wirelessly from your smartphone’s media library and you can also stream online music from Pandora and Spotify.

All the controls can be adjusted on the touchscreen panel or using the wireless remote control. Additionally, the Bluetooth function also allows you to make or receive hands-free calls while driving to ensure that you’re always focused on the road.

FYI: There’s an option for the rear camera hookup.

On the downside, you need to modify the in-dash size for the SS head unit to fit properly. You also need the in-dash install kit.

Runner-Up: BOSS AUDIO 870DBI

Runner Up

also great

BOSS AUDIO 870DBI

The BOSS Audio 870BDI MP3/CD player with switchable and ID3 Tag enabled, AM/FM receiver (The USA and Europe) is a rugged, mean looking car stereo.

The BOSS Audio 870BDI MP3/CD player with switchable and ID3 Tag enabled, AM/FM receiver (The USA and Europe) is a rugged, mean looking car stereo.

Despite lacking the DVD playing function, this deck also comes with features galore! You can choose to listen to the radio (with 30 presets; 12 AM, 18 FM) or plug in an SD card or flash drive into the USB port and play your music from these devices.

In addition, you can also connect your iPad, iPhone or iPod via USB cable and continue the fun with your preferred music thanks to the integrated iOS control.

The BOSS 870BDI plays WMA and MP3 files from external devices connected through the front AUX input or from a CD. With 5 (1V) pre-amped outputs, the BOSS 870BDI supports front, rear and mono subwoofer drivers.

The internally built amplifier (MOSFET) is rated 18W RMS and it has a peak output value of 80W x 4 channels bring the total output to an amazing 320W which makes the deck quite a powerful head unit.

The inbuilt equalizer has 4 preset tonal selections to give you more listening options and you can adjust the fader, balance, bass, and treble as you desire. The single-line detachable display faceplate comes off to deter theft.

As customary with many decks in this category, this cheap car radio also comes with the Bluetooth feature to enable wireless media streaming from your smart devices (A2DP & AVRCP).

You can also stream endless music from Spotify and Pandora to keep the party mood going all day long! Of course, there’s also the hands-free phone calling and receiving capability which allows you to pick up phone calls safely as you cruise the highway.

There is a wireless remote control which also comes in handy when you need to operate your head unit while on the move.

More features include the Auto Memory Search (A.M.S) which works with the radio function and the Electronic Skip Protection feature just like the SS DD889B HU.

Also Great: Pyle PLDN74BT

Also Great

Cheap Option

Pyle PLDN74BT

And for it's price includes Bluetooth wireless music streaming and call-answering capability!

The Pyle PLDN74BTI DVD/CD player head unit is a product of absolute beauty and pizzazz… it will accept all your digital media and it charges your USB-connected external devices as they stream multimedia data.

The 7-inch Hi-Resolution HD widescreen TFT touchscreen (LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio) can be adjusted (color, contrast, brightness,) for perfect picture display and the panel is motorized to tilt for a better viewing angle and experience.

The user-friendly menu allows you to operate the HU with ease (response time of 30-50 ms) and the display also includes a phone dial pad to help you make calls without touching your actual phone.

You can also import your contact list conveniently from your Bluetooth enabled smartphones and devices (tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Android).

The US-Europe switchable FM/AM receiver (PLL synthesizer tuner) has a memory for 30 radio station presets which allow you to quickly access your favorite stations at a press of a button (faster than auto scan).

Clarion CZ505

Single-DIN car stereos have never been made better than the Clarion CZ505!

This deck’s bold design and sophisticated styling are absolutely awesome, to say the least… none of the big names in this category even came close to matching the Clarion’s exceptional performance or closely positioned (well illuminated) intuitive controls and bright LCD display.

The sound quality cannot even be explained… it has to be experienced. It is much louder, much clearer and the power of this baby can tear speakers apart!

To begin with, the 4V pre-amped 6-channel outs drive (the front, rear, and subwoofer) at 22W RMS with a peak rating of 4 x 50W for the internal amplifier.

High-pass and low-pass filters coupled with the loudness control and bass boost plus the 3-band preset parametric equalizer give you more options (EXCITE, IMPACT or BASS BOOST) for your auditory experience.

The preset equalizer can also be customized to different levels of treble, midrange, and bass. The inputs include a front USB port and Aux jack which means you can play WMA and MP3 files from your USB thumb drive and stream music from MP3 music sources.

The cool part of this deck’s FM/AM HD radio receiver (with CD-quality clarity) is the compatibility with SiriusXM (satellite) radio tuner. You can also tag songs heard over the radio to buy them later on iTunes Store.

Bluetooth connectivity with aptX codec support allows you to listen to music from your smartphones with improved audio quality (full audio bandwidth reproduction) through bit rate reduction to facilitate smooth playback which doesn’t compromise latency or sound quality.

In addition to making or receiving hands-free calls, the Bluetooth function in the Clarion CZ505 deck allows you to enjoy interactive internet radio from Pandora and also provide thumbs up or thumbs down feedback while listening to songs.

You can also use the song title or artist name to bookmark your favorite music or replay songs. A wireless remote control enables you to adjust the deck’s functions without taking your eyes off the road.

If you think you can find a cheap single-DIN car stereo that can top the Clarion CZ505 head unit, then please, you are welcome to share that useful information with the world in the comment section.

FYI: Installation is super easy for DIY-ers. Also, it has built-in control for iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

Runner-Up: Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS

Runner Up

Also Great

Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS

If there was ever a single DIN head unit from Pioneer that was ever built to almost perfection, then the Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS receiver with an inbuilt CD player is it!

If there was ever a single DIN head unit from Pioneer that was ever built to almost perfection, then the Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS receiver with an inbuilt CD player is it!

And let’s not even get into the audio enhancement feature… this deck surely earns the second position on this cheap car stereos list.

Let’s start with the HD FM/AM radio tuner which supports the new Tune Mix feature and works startlingly well with SiriusXM (SXV300).

The Bluetooth function allows you to do more than just stream music from your smartphone or make clear hands-free calls (wideband speech Profile 1.6 with double bandwidth amplification).

Just like the Pioneer DEH-X6900BT, the DEH-X7800BHS plays well with your Bluetooth enabled smartphone through the ARC app and you can also play music from Spotify and Pandora with endless streaming and superior sound quality! The MIXTRAX Dj feature and the 13-band equalizer keep the party pumping all day long.

With 3 level loudness, you’ll never have to worry about volume while playing music from your CDs (CD-RW, CD-R) and USB memory sticks. With high-pass – low-pass filters, subwoofer control, and 3-way networking, the Pioneer DEH-X7800BHS is all about sound quality.

It can also play FLAC files (44.1 Hz/16 bit) with CD-quality clarity.

You can connect Android devices through a USB cable and play music from there thanks to the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol), and you can also use the same USB connectivity to hook up your iOS devices such as iPhones or iPods to gain full control of the music stored on them.

More features include the 10-level brightness control and the customizable dual-zone illuminated display with over 210, 000 color combinations.

Owners of iPhone 4 (and newer) can also use voice control through the Siri Eyes Free voice recognition feature.

Cheap Car Stereo – under $200 – DOUBLE DIN

Our Pick: Planet Audio PNV9680

Double DIN Winner

Our under $200 Pick

Planet Audio PNV9680

This is the cheapest double DIN you will find that have GPS and 6-inch full-color touchscreen that allows adjusting much of the controls and available features.

The PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile) also allows you to see the name of your callers and access your full contact list from the head unit.

Options for expansion include a front USB port (with a connection to mini USB), rear A/V RCA input and video RCA output, SD card reader, and a dedicated input for the rear camera.

There are 3 (2V) pre-outs for the front, rear, and mono subwoofer and a power output of 80W x 4 channels at 20W x 4 channels RMS.

The 2-band parametric EQ and the 1-bit DAC features enhance your media playback to give you exceptional sound quality. ID3 tagging allows you to view text information about music from your CD and MP3 players.

Additionally, the Planet Audio PNV9680 head unit also comes with the GPS feature which can load maps through a micro SD chip.

The GPS function also has a text-to-speech capability, automatic re-routing, lane guidance, and the realistic representation of interchanges (works in Puerto Rico, the US, Mexico and Canada).

You will never lose your way with this GPS guiding system!

Why do you need car stereo – or who this is for?

The rest of us want more out of our car radios… more sound quality, more RMS wattage (combined or per channel), more output channels, more control, more functionality such as multiple audio or video input capabilities; CDs, DVDs, iPods, (and the ability to stream different multimedia formats), Bluetooth connectivity, HD or satellite radio, iOS or Android compatibility (with hands-free calling/receiving capabilities or smartphone media library streaming), and of course, good old GPS function… we simply want more. We want it all!

The more sophisticated, the better. Oh, and the cheaper it is to get all these functionalities in a single car stereo head unit the better too! Affordability is always an issue. We’re all looking for the best cheap car stereo.

We also want a car stereo that’s easy to install and doesn’t require us to pull out the user manual all the time to figure out how to operate.

Gone are the days when you could count all the top car stereo brands on one hand, literally! I mean it was Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, and a bit of JBL or Alpine here and there… and that’s it. And we only had a choice of the single DIN car stereo. It gives me great pleasure to say that was then…

The market is now saturated with up and coming brands that have shown lots of promise as far as innovation and quality car stereo HUs are concerned.

Our big dogs up there still hold top positions in most car stereo categories but there are a few somewhat “little-known” brands like Sound Storm, Pyle, XO Vision, Planet Audio, Clarion, BOSS, and SoundStream that are quickly snatching up big chunks of the industry market from the household brands.

Although they don’t compare in global market command, these brands have proven to be worthy competitors.

As mentioned earlier, car radios are all about personality and functionality. Personality in the sense that when anyone decides to upgrade their car stereo (from the simple stock 2-band radio receiver), they usually choose to replace it with something that speaks to them (or about them…) in a deeper way.

It’s not just about the music or visual aesthetics… it includes personal style and class, and what appeals to your ego, in short… who you really are. Your car stereo says a lot about you in so many ways.

Plus it also earns you some respect as well as bragging rights! (*depending on where you live or your social circles… game recognizes game!)

The functionality part covers pretty much everything else on your car stereo and your entire car audio system. This is purely more about user experience, performance (output power), expandability (scalability), and all those other fancy features like illuminated or feather-touch buttons, touch screens, and hands-free calling or USB and micro SD integration.

Conclusion

Finding your preferred car stereo is not always an easy thing, but neither should it be hard… We have looked at 14 of the best cheap car stereos under $100 and $200 and the competition so far is stiff!

Most of the decks discussed in this review score exceptionally well on power output, functionality, and ease of operation.

In addition to the big names in the industry such as Pioneer, BOSS Audio, and Kenwood, (relatively) new entrants into the game such as Clarion, Pyle, Soundstream, Planet Audio, and Sound Storm have really shown lots of potential and all we can do for now is look to the future with anticipation.

Which other do affordable car stereo you think should be included in the list?

Jan 10, 2018Vincent T

*Any prices mentioned in the article were at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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